For a weekend fix, try an at-home nail spa; for a monthly session, perhaps a glamorous mani-pedi is in order. But, what about the health of your nails?
If they’re the kind that chip and get caught in your hair, have taken on a yellow hue, are hardened to the point of cutting into your skin, or are surrounded by torn cuticles, then you most certainly need some extra TLC.
Here are some remedial measures for the nail problems that aren’t just about the superficial appearance of your talons.
Strengthen Brittle Nails
Strengthen Brittle Nails: Regular use of nail paint and acetone can weaken the fingernails, but your diet and nail care routine are just as much to be blamed. While a manicure once a month is a good bet, you can also try this rub. Grind 1/2 cup walnuts (shelled) into a coarse powder. Add 1tbsp olive oil, 1tbsp castor oil and 1tsp honey to make a thick paste. Rub onto your nails thoroughly, leaving no corner uncovered. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Apply twice a week for best results. You can strengthen the nails with other such quick fixes.
Cuticle Repair
Cuticle Repair: The biggest mistake most people tend to make is that of cutting into the cuticles and damaging the protective barrier between the nails and the skin. This can make you prone to infections and is completely unnecessary. Thoroughly mix 2tsp jojoba oil with 10tsp carrot seed essential oil. Warm the oil before application and gently massage it into the corners of the nails; leave it overnight. Jojoba oil acts as an anti-bacterial, while the carrot seed oil prevents dryness. Promote healthy cuticle growth with some other home remedies.
Treating Nail Fungus
Treating Nail Fungus: While nail fungus initially appears to be a cosmetic problem, the nail may harden to such an extent that it presses against the skin, which can cause irritation, and even pain. People above the age of 50 are more prone to fungal infections, and so are teenagers who share communal showers and pools. Put 5 drops tea tree oil on a cotton swab and apply it on the infected nail, three times a day until the nail fungus is treated. Terpinen, a natural substance in tea tree oil, has anti-fungal, antiviral and antiseptic properties that kill dermatophytes—the main cause of fungal infections. Here are other remedies to treat the problem.
Go Vegan
Go Vegan: According to a survey, about 67 percent of nail art addicts are on the lookout for non-toxic lacquers that also provide some TLC. Call it a vegan diet for the nails, if you will. Once you’ve slapped on a coat, experiment with our step-by-step guide on easy-to-do nail art that strings along the all-natural trend. One such trend is the “moon manicure” that first showed up on screen stars back in the ’20s. In graphic black-and-white, the two-tone paint job is bolder than ever. Apply one coat of opaque white over the entire nail and wait for the polish to dry completely. Using a semi-circular French manicure stencil sticker, block off the bottom third of your nail. Paint 2 coats of black from the stencil to the tip of the nail. Once it dries, peel off the sticker and finish with a shine-enhancing top coat over the entire nail.
Yellow Nails
Yellow Nails: If you feel compelled to paint your nails just to hide that unsightly and grim-looking yellow pigment, you’re only doing more damage. In most cases, it’s all the result of your nails absorbing some of the pigment from your paints and lacquers; the darker the shade, the worse the problem. This home remedy will mellow the yellow. It uses lemon, which is an all-purpose miracle fruit. It has bleaching and detoxifying properties that will give your nails back their original color. Just extract some lemon juice into a bowl, and soak your fingers in the solution for 5-10 minutes.
PS: For more all-natural solutions, head to our DIY Section.
Also, here’s the latest on what’s trending in the world of Beauty.
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